Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Psalm 7:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 7:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “maybe they can tear me apart like a lion,
    and rip me off without anyone to save me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Otherwise they will chew me up like a lion.
    Without anyone being able to save me
    they will cut me to pieces.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “for if not, maybe they would-kill me
    like a lion tearing-to-pieces/gnawing-on/devouring its victim,
    and no-one can save me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “But if it is not like that, I fear they will tear my body like a tiger tears the body of an animal into pieces, and there is no one to help.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “or they will tear me like a lion
    to pieces, and there is nobody to help me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Kwa sababu kama vile simba,
    wanaweza kunirarua, na kunivutia mbali,
    ambako hakuna hata mmoja wa kuniokoa.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “If you do not do that, they will tear me into pieces
    like a lion does when it attacks the animals it wants to kill,
    and no one will save me from them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 9:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 9:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “He shall judge the earth in justice;
    he will rule human races impartially.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “He will not render judgment by looking at faces.
    He will rule the people without partiality.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) will-judge the people of the world rightly/justly, without you (sing.) showing/[lit. having] favoritism.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “He judges straight good all people living on this earth. And he judges rightly every kind of person.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “He will judge the matter of the people of the world properly.
    He will rule people with justice.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Anaziamua nchi zote kwa unyofu,
    anahukumu makabila yote vizuri.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “and he will judge all the people in the world justly;
    he will judge the people of all nations fairly.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 11:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 11:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “For see the wicked bend their bows;
    they properly put their arrows on the strings of the bow,
    at their hiding ready to shoot
    the righteous hearted.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Look! The wicked have hidden [and] have already put arrows in their bows and drawn them to hit the good people.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “for the wicked (are) now stretching-out their arrows in a dark place
    in-order to shoot-with-arrows those who live rightly.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “For wicked people take crossbows wanting to shoot straight good people from a dark place.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “because bad people pull their bows
    and they put arrows on their ropes,
    so that they shoot from darkness
    good people with arrows.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Tazameni waliopotoka,
    wameuandaa upinde wao,
    wameweka mishale yao katika uzi,
    wamejificha katika giza ili wawachome wanyofu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “because wicked people have hidden in the darkness,
    they have pulled back their bowstrings and aimed their arrows
    to shoot them at godly/righteous people like you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 16:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 16:1:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Keep me You God,
    for I flee to You.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Please protect me, Almighty God,
    I have come to your refuge.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “O God, keep- me -safe,
    for in you (sing.) I ask-for protection.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Oh God! Request you keep me safe, because I take refuge in you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “God, you keep me,
    I am hiding in a place where you are staying.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ee Mungu, unilinde mimi,
    kwa maana nimekimbilia kwako.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “God, protect me
    because I go to you to keep me safe!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 18:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “The earth trembled and there was an earthquake,
    and the foundations of the mountains were shaken;
    they were shaken because He was angry.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “God became angry,
    Then at that time the earthquake struck, the earth trembled,
    the foundations of the mountains cracked.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Then the-earth-quaked, and also the foundation of the mountains/hills shook/trembled,
    because you (sing.) (were) angry, LORD.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “Then, all the countries on the earth shook. The heads of the mountains also shook, because God felt hot in his gall bladder (was angry).” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Then the world trembled and shook,
    the mountains shook and trembled,
    because God was angry.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Ndipo nchi ikatikisika na kutetemeka,
    misingi ya milima ikatikisika,
    ikatikisika kwa sababu Mungu alichukia.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Then the earth quaked/shook strongly;
    the mountains shook very strongly from their centers
    because Yahweh was angry.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 18:39)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:39:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “You clothed me with the power to do a war,
    you caused me to defeat my enemies.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “You have given me strength to fight.
    and [You] have put my enemies at my feet.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “You (sing.) gave me strength to-fight
    and caused- me -to-win over my enemies.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “You give me strength in order to battle. And you allow me to overcome my enemies, so that they do obeisance to me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “You gave me powerful weapons of war,
    and you made my enemies to bow at my feet.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wewe ulinipa nguvu ya kupigana vita,
    uliwatupa chini katika miguu yangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “You have enabled me to be strong
    in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 20:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 20:7:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Some rely on carts and some on horses
    but we will rely on the name of Jehovah our God.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Some people trust in their chariots,
    some people trust in their horses,
    but as for us, we trust in the LORD our God.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Some trust in their chariots and others in their horses,
    but we (excl.) on-the-other-hand trust in the LORD our (excl.) God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “There are people who boast in their chariots (lit. war vehicles), and there are those who boast in their horses. But we boast only in the amazing power of God, our Lord.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “Some people put their hearts on chariots which are pull by horses or on horses.
    But instead we put our hearts in the names of LORD our God.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wengine wanatumaini magari ya vita, wengine farasi,
    lakini sisi tunamtumaini Bwana, Mungu wetu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Some kings trust that because they have chariots they will be able to defeat their enemies, and some trust that their horses will enable them to defeat their enemies,
    but we will trust in the power of Yahweh our God.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Psalm 22:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 22:17:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “I can count all my bones;
    people take a closer look at me and gloat at me.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “All the bones in my body are already showing.
    My enemies are looking at me and saying, "Well done!"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “My bones are-coming-out already,
    and they are- just -staring at me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru:
    “All my bones can be counted. So others stare at me and mockingly laugh.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “All my bones were seen outside.
    People see me and they laugh at me.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Mifupa yangu iko peupe naweza kuiona,
    maadui zangu wanaikodolea macho na kunisimanga.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “I am so weak and thin that my bones can be seen and counted.
    My enemies stare at me and gloat/are happy about what has happened to me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)